Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation - Forew. by Richard T. T. Forman

Landscape ecology and conservation biology are rapidly developing disciplines, and a current synthesis of principles and applications in these two fields is needed under one cover. Many managers are not applying principles of landscape ecology in efforts to conserve biota, yet the loss of biological diversity could be reduced if broad-scale processes and patterns were consistently considered in management and conservation decisions. Bringing together insights from leaders in landscape ecology and conservation biology, this book explains how our knowledge about landscape ecology can help us understand, manage and maintain biodiversity. Beyond explaining pertinent concepts of landscape ecology and biological conservation and describing examples of their use in management, research and planning, this book also distills principles for applying landscape ecology in conservation, identifies gaps in current knowledge and provides research approaches to fill those voids. The book is divided into five parts: the first part introduces the book and discusses what landscape ecology is and why it is important to biological conservation. The second deals with multiple scales, connectivity and organism movement. The third part discusses landscape change and how this affects biodiversity, and the fourth part covers conservation planning. The final part presents a synthesis that identifies overarching principles, pervasive constraints and realistic prospects for applying landscape ecology in biological conservation. Conservationists, land-use planners, and ecologists will find this book to be an essential resource. Foreword by Richard T.T. Forman.

List of contents

Section I. Introduction.- 1. Central Concepts and Issues of Landscape Ecology.- 2. Central Concepts and Issues of Biological Conservation.- 3. Broad-Scale Ecological Science and Its Application.- Section II. Multiple Scales, Connectivity, and Organism Movement.- 4. Spatial Factors Affecting Organism Occurrence, Movement, and Conservation: Introduction to Section II.- 5. Patch-, Landscape-, and Regional-Scale Effects on Biota.- 6. Corridors and Species Dispersal.- 7. Using Percolation Theory to Assess Landscape Connectivity and Effects of Habitat Fragmentation.- 8. Landscape Connections and Genetic Diversity.- 9. Habitat Networks and Biological Conservation.- 10. Landscape Invasibility by Exotic Species.- Section III. Landscape Change.- 11. Conservation in Human-Altered Landscapes: Introduction to Section III.- 12. Human Conversion of Terrestrial Habitats.- 13. Impacts of Landscape Transformation by Roads.- 14. Landscape Pattern, Timber Extraction, and Biological Conservation.- 15. Animal Behavior in Fragmented Landscapes.- 16. Effects of Landscape Change on the Physical and Chemical Components of Aquatic Ecosystems.- 17. Effects of Landscape Change on Aquatic Biodiversity and Biointegrity.- 18. Time Lags in Metapopulation Responses to Landscape Change.- Section IV. Conservation Planning.- 19. Using Broad-Scale Ecological Information in Conservation Planning: Introduction to Section IV.- 20. Landscape and Regional Planning for Conservation: Issues and Practicalities.- 21. Assessing the Conservation Potential of Habitat Networks.- 22. Use of Metapopulation Models in Conservation Planning.- 23. Prescribing Habitat Layouts: Analysis of Optimal Placement for Landscape Planning.- 24. Aquatic Conservation Planning: Using Landscape Maps to Predict Ecological Reference Conditions for Specific Waters.- Section V. Synthesis and Conclusions.- 25. Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation: Principles, Constraints, and Prospects.

Summary

Landscape ecology and conservation biology are rapidly developing disciplines, and a current synthesis of principles and applications in these two fields is needed under one cover. Many managers are not applying principles of landscape ecology in efforts to conserve biota, yet the loss of biological diversity could be reduced if broad-scale processes and patterns were consistently considered in management and conservation decisions. Bringing together insights from leaders in landscape ecology and conservation biology, this book explains how our knowledge about landscape ecology can help us understand, manage and maintain biodiversity. Beyond explaining pertinent concepts of landscape ecology and biological conservation and describing examples of their use in management, research and planning, this book also distills principles for applying landscape ecology in conservation, identifies gaps in current knowledge and provides research approaches to fill those voids. The book is divided into five parts: the first part introduces the book and discusses what landscape ecology is and why it is important to biological conservation. The second deals with multiple scales, connectivity and organism movement. The third part discusses landscape change and how this affects biodiversity, and the fourth part covers conservation planning. The final part presents a synthesis that identifies overarching principles, pervasive constraints and realistic prospects for applying landscape ecology in biological conservation. Conservationists, land-use planners, and ecologists will find this book to be an essential resource. Foreword by Richard T.T. Forman.

Additional text

From the reviews:

"The … volume, ‘Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation,’ reviews how the different facets of landscape ecology apply to biological conservation. … This volume is extremely well organized, a testament to Gutzwiller’s leadership as editor. … offers more than a landscape perspective to students, scientists, and resource managers who wish to stem the current global biodiversity crisis; it provides a roadmap to integrate our principles into conservation planning. If this book is any indication, the future of landscape ecology in biological conservation is brightly indeed." (Brian Sturtevant, International Association of Landscape Ecology, Issue 19, 2004)

"Like conservation biology, landscape ecology is a young science, with new findings and applications rapidly emerging. For this reason, this comprehensive recent text serves as an important reference for today’s practitioners, researchers, and students. Forty-eight internationally recognized authors contribute chapters that together cover topics including the movements of organisms among habitats, the invasions of exotic species, the effects of roads and logging, conservation planning for aquatic ecosystems, and much more." (www.worldwildlife.org, September, 2003)

Report

From the reviews:
"The ... volume, 'Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation,' reviews how the different facets of landscape ecology apply to biological conservation. ... This volume is extremely well organized, a testament to Gutzwiller's leadership as editor. ... offers more than a landscape perspective to students, scientists, and resource managers who wish to stem the current global biodiversity crisis; it provides a roadmap to integrate our principles into conservation planning. If this book is any indication, the future of landscape ecology in biological conservation is brightly indeed." (Brian Sturtevant, International Association of Landscape Ecology, Issue 19, 2004)
"Like conservation biology, landscape ecology is a young science, with new findings and applications rapidly emerging. For this reason, this comprehensive recent text serves as an important reference for today's practitioners, researchers, and students. Forty-eight internationally recognized authors contribute chapters that together cover topics including the movements of organisms among habitats, the invasions of exotic species, the effects of roads and logging, conservation planning for aquatic ecosystems, and much more." (www.worldwildlife.org, September, 2003)

Product details

• Authors: T. T. Forman
• Assisted by: K. Gutzwiller (Editor), Kevi Gutzwiller (Editor), Kevin Gutzwiller (Editor), Kevin J. Gutzwiller (Editor), T.T. Forman (Foreword)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 27.05.2002
• EAN: 9780387953229
• ISBN: 978-0-387-95322-9
• No. of pages: 518
• Weight: 856 g
• Illustrations: XXVII, 518 p.
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Ecology; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Business administration; B, Urban Planning, Applied ecology, Environmental Management, Regional & area planning, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Botany & plant sciences, Environmental management,, Landscape Ecology, Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning, Regional planning, Human Geography